House Republicans are gathering at President Donald Trump’s Doral resort for their annual policy retreat, aiming to define their legislative agenda before the upcoming midterms. However, the event is shadowed by the president's recent ultimatum, which could reshape the entire discussion.

On Sunday, President Trump announced he would not sign any legislation until the GOP passes the SAVE America Act, a comprehensive elections overhaul. This sudden demand throws a wrench into the Republicans' plans, especially as they also face challenges like a new Middle East conflict, rising oil prices, and internal party discord that threatens their slim majority in the House.

The retreat, which begins under stormy forecasts in South Florida, will see Trump addressing the assembly at 5 p.m. on Monday. The focus will likely be on his ultimatum regarding the SAVE America Act and his additional demands to include restrictions on transgender surgeries and mail voting. These issues are expected to intensify GOP infighting and complicate efforts to bypass the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster requirement.

Another significant topic at the retreat will be the potential pursuit of a second party-line budget reconciliation bill. While House Speaker Mike Johnson has shown interest in this route, it requires strong GOP unity and faces likely obstruction in the Senate. The need for increased war funding, given the new Middle East tensions, may prompt a renewed push for reconciliation despite resistance from Senate Democrats.

Committee chairs are scheduled to share their legislative priorities on Tuesday. Jason Smith of the Ways and Means Committee will discuss bipartisan health care and tax initiatives, while Financial Services Chair French Hill plans to talk about reconciliation priorities and ongoing work on housing and cryptocurrency legislation. Homeland Security Chair Andrew Garbarino will outline the impacts of the DHS funding lapse on preparedness and discuss upcoming reauthorization bills.

The retreat will also feature discussions on broader GOP strategy and communication. White House deputy chief of staff James Blair, Trump campaign co-manager Chris LaCivita, and National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett will provide insights on Tuesday. Conservative commentator Scott Jennings and podcast host Ben Shapiro will advise on GOP messaging and the impact of new media, respectively.

Additionally, the retreat occurs as the Senate moves to pass bipartisan housing legislation, which faces opposition from House conservatives over provisions related to the Federal Reserve's authority on digital currency. The White House desires the bill to pass as proposed, setting up another potential clash within the party.

Also noteworthy is the Senate's upcoming vote on the nomination of Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd to lead the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command, alongside innovative campaign strategies such as former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s AI-enhanced ads featuring an endorsement from the ailing Bobby Rush.

As the retreat unfolds, the array of pressing issues and Trump's recent dictates are expected to dominate discussions, shaping the GOP's legislative and electoral strategies in this critical election cycle.